Tiltable air plane seat

ABSTRACT

This disclosure is concerned with a seat composed of a chassis, a back and a seat, the seat and the back at least being pivoted to one another and being able to move with respect to the chassis, the shaft around which the back tilts and the pivoting shaft of the back and of the seat being movable and guided both in slides made in the chassis the length of which and the direction of which determining the movement, the movement of the seat being itself guided by a third slide whose characteristics are also coherent with the form of the assembly.

United States Patent Robert L. Malitte Paris, France Dec. 2, 1968 Mar.30, 1971 Companie Nationale Air France Paris, France lnventor Appl. No.Filed Patented Assignee TILTABLE AIR PLANE SEAT 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Fig.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1906 Hanger 297/318 PrimaryExaminerReinaldo P. Machado Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel .lLobato ABSTRACT: This disclosure is concerned with a seat composed of achassis, a back and a seat, the seat and the back at least being pivotedto one another and being able to move with respect to the chassis, theshaft around which the back tilts and the pivoting shaft of the back andof the seat being movable and guided both in slides made in the chassisthe length of which and the direction of which determining the movement,the movement of the seat being itself guided by a third s1ide whosecharacteristics are also coherent with the form of the assembly.

PATENTED HAR30 1971 TllL'llABLE Am PLANE SEAT There are already knownseveral types of seats specially designed for use in aircrafts andhaving consequently characteristics which render them comfortable foruse by passengers as well as taking minimum space.

A first group of such seats can be designated as being of the fixedgeometry type in the sense that the angle between the bottom of theseats and back remains constant in all positions of the assembly. inthis type of seat the chassis once secured relative to the floor, theassembly formed by the bottom and the seat can move relative to thechassis either because it is connected to said chassis by a system ofcranks or movable levers, or because it is mounted on rollers which movein slides or grooves made in the said chassis. It is known however thatthe optimum comfort of the passenger requires that according to thegeneral position of his body which can be more or less oblique relativeto the ground, the angle made by his torso and his head relative to hislower limbs is variable. This requirement is not satisfied in the caseof the above described seats where the angle between the back and thebottom, the respective supports for the torso and the head on the onehand and the lower limbs on the other hand is constant.

This is the reason for providing in the prior art tiltable seats. In thefirst seats of this type the movable back is simply pivoted relative tothe fixed bottom. The passenger can then at will increase the anglebetween the back and the seat; however the shape and the profile ofthese two elements being provided for optimum comfort in one positionare not satisfactory with respect to comfort in the other extremeposition.

There has then been perfected seats in which the single pivoting of theback relative to the bottom is coupled with a translational movement ofsaid bottom when the angle between the seat and the back increases. inthese seats, however, the pivoting axis between the back and bottomremains fixed. Owing to this fact, as besides in the device of the abovedescribed seat, the space towards the back in spread position of theback is important which increases the volume and decreases then theefficiency of use which in airplanes depends upon volume and weight.

Additionally the immobility of the pivoting shaft also presents adrawback with respect to comfort since the immobility of the pivotingaxis necessarily creates in elongated position a tendency for the bodyof the passenger to go forward which tendency the passenger mustrepress. Finally, the distribution of the unitary pressures of the bodyof the passenger on the seat, calculated to be as great as possible, ina given position diminishes with variations in position. Thisnecessitates considerable thicknesses of cushion in order to compensate.

The present invention is concerned with an improvement in a tiltableseat and has, first of all, all the advantages of pivoting with respectto a seat where the angle between the back and the bottom is fixed. Thisconstitutes a first difference with applicants French Pat. No. 1,369,343of Feb. 1 8, 1963. Besides the pivoting axis or axes of the seat aremovable which enables the passenger to vary at will the angle of hisbody and to assume positions as stretched as possible with a lesserrearward movement of the back than in previously described devices; thisincreases comfort, reduces volume and accordingly increases efiiciency.Finally, the distribution of the unit pres sures on each part of thebody is maintained in all positions which makes it possible to reducethe thicknesses of the cushion and the weight of the seats andconsequently the cost of the internal equipment of the aircraft.

The present invention has in effect for object an aircraft seat composedof a chassis, a back and a bottom, the bottom and the back at leastbeing pivoted one to the other and being movable relative to thechassis, seat characterized by the fact that the axis around which tiltsthe back and the pivoting axis of the back and the bottom are movableand guided both in slides made in the chassis whose directions andlengths are coherent with respect to the general kinematic of themovement, the movement of the bottom being itself guided in a thirdslide whose characteristics are also coherent with the generalkinematic.

The invention will be better understood by reading the followingdescription which is given by way of nonlimiting example and with theaid of the accompanying drawing in which there can be seen in a singleFIGURE a side view showing a vertical general cross section of the seatof the invention.

The chassis of the seat is composed of a foot 1, a base 2 and a coupleofarms 3 only one of which is shown. This assembly can be moved relativeto the ground by various devices such as the fitting of foot 1 in guiderails, not shown. Such a device for rendering the chassis movablerelative: to the floor has already been described in French Pat. No.1,369,343 of Feb. 18, 1963, to the applicant. This foot has owing to itsshape the industrial advantages with respect to the possibility ofmoving and housing the feet of the passenger behind the seat. Thecombination of this foot with the seat of the invention also constitutespart of the present patent.

Arms 3 are in principle fixed. However, it is possible without departingfrom the scope of the invention to pivot them relative to chassis 2 soas to vary their angle relative to the horizontal as required by thepositions of the body of the passenger.

In chassis 2 are provided at least three slides 4, 5 and 6. The back 7and the bottom 8 of the seat are pivoted around pivot 9 and the backaround pivot 10. In the inclined movement, the back assumes positions7a, 7b and the bottom takes simultaneously positions 8a, 8b, etc. Duringthis movement pivot 10 around which pivots back 7 moves in groove 6while the shaft of its articulation 9 with the bottom 8 moves in groove5 and a pivot 11 integral with bottom 8 moves in groove 4. Positionsl0a-l0, 9a-9b, Ila-l lb, of pivots 10-9 and 11 correspond to positions7a8a and 7b-8b relative to back 7 and bottom 8.

It is seen then according to the fundamental characteristic of theinvention that the axes 9 and 10 of pivoting and articulation aremovable with respect to the fixed chassis.

As indicated above this device makes possible to combine the advantagesof a mobility of the assembly of the seats relative to the chassis andof a relative movement of the seat and back. Naturally this assembly ofcharacteristics can only be obtained if the length and the directions ofthe slides l, 5 and 6 be coherent therebetween, that is to say if theypermit without friction or blocking a harmonious simultaneous movementof the various parts one relative to the other and relative to thechassis.

The invention is not limited to the above described case which comprisesa single articulation and three slides.

it is easy without departing from the scope of the invention togeneralize in the case where the back 7 and/or bottom 8 themselves arearticulated in one or several parts. it is perfectly possible toconceive of back 7 as being articulated at least in two parts, the upperpart forming the seat of the head which the passenger may require tomake a certain angle with his back. in the same manner, the passengermay wish that the front of the seat be slightly raised when he is instretched position in order to repress definitely all tendency to slideto the front or in order to ensure a higher level for his legs.

in such a hypothesis there is reason to provide one or severaladditional grooves made in the chassis and extended for this purposeupwardly or towards the front and in which move the axes of articulationof the back or bottom 8. Additional guiding grooves similar to groove 4in device 7 above described would then be provided with axes integral ofthe back or bottom 8 whose extremities would move in these grooves.

in the extreme case the seat can constitute a device resembling somewhata bicycle chain whose various links are pivoted with respect to oneanother and which would be ideal with respect to the unitarydistribution of the passengers weight and his comfort.

The ends of the axes of articulation or the guides which slide ingrooves 4, 5 and 6 can have rollers which aid movement within saidgrooves.

Additionally there has been shown schematically at 13 a lock which canbe hydraulic and extensible and serves to immobilize the movableassembly constituted by the bottom and the back. This lock is secured onthe one hand to a fixed point 14 of the chassis and on the other hand toa point 14' of the movable seat. This lock is controlled by a button 15.

As long as the user does not touch the button, the movable assemblyremains in the desired position.

Owing to the advance movement of bottom 8 into position 8a and 812 whenthe back assumes positions 7a and 7b, the rearward movement of said back7 is much less when bottom 8 is fixed which constitutes an advantagewith respect to the space taken up by the seat.

Iclaim:

1. An aircraft chair comprising a chassis, a seat, and a back, aplurality of pivot pins connected to said seat and back, a plurality ofpivot pins connected to said seat and back, and means defining first,second and third slots in said chassis for receiving said pins tothereby join said seat and back to said chassis, said first slot ispositioned in an upper portion of said chassis and is disposedsubstantially vertically first pins are pivotally received in said firstslots, said lower back section and read end of said seat are hingedtogether and provided with a pair of second pivot pins projecting fromtheir hinged connection and pivotally received in said second slots, anda forward end of said set is provided with a pair of third pivot pinspivotally received in said third slots, whereby said seat and backportions are movable with respect to said chassis by pivotal and slidingmovement of said pairs of first, second and third pivot pins within saidfirst, second and third slots.

2. An aircraft chair according to claim 1, wherein said back comprisestwo sections hingedly connected at said first pivot pm.

3. The invention as set forth in claim I, in which the lower end of saidfirst slot is disposed above said second slot.

4. The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which said first, secondand third slots define sections of a substantially continuous curve.

5. The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which the forward end ofsaid second slot is substantially horizontally aligned with said thirdslide.

6. An aircraft seat comprising a chassis including two spaced parallelplates each having means defining first, second, and third slots, a seatportion, and a back portion including upper and lower separate sections,said upper and lower separate back sections are hinged together andprovided with a pair of first projecting pins at their hingedconnection, said pair of and on a slight angle downward and forward ofsaid chassis, said second slot is positioned in a rear lower portion ofsaid chassis and is disposed substantially horizontally and on a slightincline downwardly and forwardly of said chassis, and said third slot ispositioned in a lower forward portion of said chassis and is disposedsubstantially horizontally, said back is provided with a first saidpivot pin pivotally and slideably received in said first slot toarticulate said back with respect to said chassis and said bottom, saidback and seat are hinged together at their respective lower and rearportions and are provided with a second said pivot pin pivotally andslideably received in said second slot, and said seat is provided with athird said pivot pin and its forward portion slideably and pivotallyreceived in said third slot.

1. An aircraft chair comprising a chassis, a seat, and a back, aplurality of pivot pins connected to said seat and back, a plurality ofpivot pins connected to said seat and back, and means defining first,second and third slots in said chassis for receiving said pins tothereby join said seat and back to said chassis, said first slot ispositioned in an upper portion of said chassis and is disposedsubstantially vertically first pins are pivotally received in said firstslots, said lower back section and read end of said seat are hingedtogether and provided with a pair of second pivot pins projecting fromtheir hinged connection and pivotally received in said second slots, anda forward end of said set is provided with a pair of third pivot pinspivotally received in said third slots, whereby said seat and backportions are movable with respect to said chassis by pivotal and slidingmovement of said pairs of first, second and third pivot pins within saidfirst, second and third slots.
 2. An aircraft chair according to claim1, wherein said back comprises two sections hingedly connected at saidfirst pivot pin.
 3. The invention as set forth in claim 1, in which thelower end of said first slot is disposed above said second slot.
 4. Theinvention as set forth in claim 1, in which said first, second and thirdslots define sections of a substantially continuous curve.
 5. Theinvention as set forth in claim 1, in which the forward end of saidsecond slot is substantially horizontally aligned with said third slide.6. An aircraft seaT comprising a chassis including two spaced parallelplates each having means defining first, second, and third slots, a seatportion, and a back portion including upper and lower separate sections,said upper and lower separate back sections are hinged together andprovided with a pair of first projecting pins at their hingedconnection, said pair of and on a slight angle downward and forward ofsaid chassis, said second slot is positioned in a rear lower portion ofsaid chassis and is disposed substantially horizontally and on a slightincline downwardly and forwardly of said chassis, and said third slot ispositioned in a lower forward portion of said chassis and is disposedsubstantially horizontally, said back is provided with a first saidpivot pin pivotally and slideably received in said first slot toarticulate said back with respect to said chassis and said bottom, saidback and seat are hinged together at their respective lower and rearportions and are provided with a second said pivot pin pivotally andslideably received in said second slot, and said seat is provided with athird said pivot pin and its forward portion slideably and pivotallyreceived in said third slot.